Captain of my Heart by Danelle Harmon

I have received a free e-copy of the book Captain of my Heart by Danelle Harmon to review. You may find out more about the author on her website.

Here is the book blurb.

He wanted no woman, except one made of sails and wood and wind …

Handsome, wily Irish privateer Captain Brendan Jay Merrick is running from a painful past — and fighting for a new nation’s future when he arrives in the colonial town of Newburyport, Massachusetts, with plans for shipwright Ephraim Ashton to build his magnificent new schooner. Brendan’s daring sea battles against His Majesty’s fleet have made him a legend in his adopted country — but one look at the dashing stranger and Ashton’s daughter Mira starts making plans of her own. . . .

She wanted no man — but him.

Brash, hot-tempered, and born at sea in a raging gale, Mira Ashton is more than most men can manage. Disguising herself as a crew member and sneaking aboard Brendan’s newly-built Kestrel, she becomes the schooner’s finest gunner . . . and the captain’s most outrageous distraction. As desire ignites between them, Mira finds herself competing against Kestrel for Brendan’s love. But when tragedy strikes, Mira must join forces with her mighty rival in a daring adventure that turns the tide of battle and brings glorious victory to the colonists, the captain . . . and the lady who has captured his heart.

The book is set in Massachusetts in 1778-79, only a couple of years after the American colonies had declared independence from Britain. This is not a period of history that I am at all familiar with.

Irish Captain Brendan Merrick had been in the Royal Navy back in the prologue in 1775, but is now captain of an American privateer. He seems to be making a habit of falling overboard and surviving, usually at the hands of his arch-enemy British Captain Richard Crichton. This time he is rescued by Matt Ashton, who ironically is the son of shipbuilder Ephraim, whom Brendan was going to have build his new ship, from the drafts which have suffered a soggy fate in his pocket.

Matt takes him home, where he meets Matt’s unconventional sister Mira, who prefers to dress as a boy and is a dreadful cook. Mira and Brendan are attracted to each other. The ship Kestrel is built and Brendan brings his sister Eveleen to stay with the Ashtons too. Mira initially doesn’t take to Eveleen and to avoid being left at home with her, sneaks aboard Kestrel as a gunner for the maiden voyage.

It took me quite a while to get into this story but was definitely worth persevering. The different strands of the story are woven together excellently. Sea battles, romance, confusion, there’s lot more excitement to come.

Captain of my Heart is available on Amazon, currently priced at £10.99 in paperback and is also in Kindle format. A nice read once you get into it.

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About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Danelle Harmon has written seventeen critically acclaimed and award-winning books, with many being published all over the world. A Massachusetts native, she has lived in Great Britain, though these days she and her English husband make their home in New England with their daughter Emma and numerous animals including five dogs, an Egyptian Arabian horse, and a flock of pet chickens. Danelle enjoys reading, spending time with family, friends and her animals, dog showing, plane-spotting, and sailing her reproduction 19th century skiff, Kestrel II. She welcomes email from her readers and can be reached at Danelle@danelleharmon.com.

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Disclosure.  This post is a review of an e-book I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

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